World No. 5 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan announced on Friday the hiring of Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, for the 2025 season.
Rybakina, 25, parted ways with long-time coach Stefano Vukov this summer. The 2022 Wimbledon champion has won eight times on the WTA Tour, including three titles in 2024.
Djokovic ended a five-year run with Ivanisevic in March that included his record 24 Grand Slam titles.
Ivanisevic, 53, is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame with 22 ATP Tour titles including Wimbledon in 2001.
“I’m looking forward to this partnership,” Rybakina told reporters ahead of the WTA Finals, which begin Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “I think he’s a great champion and has a lot of experience, and I’m looking forward to getting started.
“For me, it was important to get better, and with the help of agents, we connected and just decided to start working. … Yes, a big change, but I think it will be a good change. .”
Ivanisevic commented on his new client on Instagram. “I’m happy to be back on Tour. This time, it’s time for some WTA action,” he wrote. “I am happy to join your team Elena Rybakina.”
Rybakina has dealt with injury and illness over the summer, withdrawing from the Paris Olympics with bronchitis and pulling out of the US Open with a back problem after her first-round win.
She makes her WTA finals debut on Saturday against fourth seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy.
–Field Level Media
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